Rotary snap-switch.



C. D. PLATT.

ROTARY SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001.27, 1911.

1,021,208. Patented Mar.26, 1912.

Fly. 7 /20 W/TNESSES: INVENTOI? ITTTORNEY CLARENCE n. rnarrfornmnsnronr, CONNECTICUT.

many SNAP-SWITCH.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed October 27, 1911. SeriabNo. 657,118.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

ferred construction adapted for this type of To all whom it mag concern:

Be it-known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county ofFairfield, State of Connecticut, have. invented an Improvement in RotarySnap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of snap switches illustrated anddescribed in Letters Patent to G. A. Clark, Number 906,386, datedDecember 8, 1908, and has for its object to simplify, cheapen and togenerally improve theconstruction and operation of indicating switchesof this type, and especially to provide indicating means of extremesimplicity which may be readily applied or removed thus making of theswitch an indicating or a non-indicating switch, as preferred.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicating dial whichis carried by the spindle and moves relatively slowly, that is with thehandle, thus avoidin the strains upon the mechanism and the liability toget out of repair that is unavoidable in switches where the indicatingdial is permitted to move forward to each indicating position with asnap.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensivemeans for connecting the dial with the spindle which shall insureperfect re istration of the dial, projections upon the ial interlockingwith a clip or holding plate on the spindle in such a manner that eachretains the other in place.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and combination of parts which will be hereinafterdescribed and then specifically pointed out inthe claims hereuntoappendedu In the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel switch as in use;Fig. 2 a view partly in elevation and partly in sec tion;! Fig. 3 anelevation of the upper end of the spindle detached; Fig. 4 a perspectiveof the clip or holding plate detached; Fig. 5 a plan view of the nutdetached; Fig. 6 a plan view of the dial or indicating plate detached;and Fig. 7 is an edge view corresponding with Fig. 6.

10 denotes the base, llthe cap, 12 contact plates, 13 the spindle, 14the operating spring, 15 the contact bar and 16 the handle,

all of which maybe of any ordinary or preswitches.

As the switch mechanism specifically.

cient for the purposes'of this specification to say that the spindle isrotated by the handle in the usual manner and that the lower end of theoperating spring is connected to the contact bar. The upper end of thespindle is threaded for engagement by the handle and below, the threadedportion is provided with slots 17 in opposite sides thereof, which areengaged by an angular clip or holding plate indicated by 18. The clip orholding plate is rovided'with a hook 19 which 1s engaged y the upper endof the operating spring.

20 denotesa dial or indicating plate which issimply a disk of metalprovided on its upper side with any suitable indications, as, forexample, the words Off and On to indicate whether the current is off oron. The dial is provided with a central hole through which the spindleis passed in assembling and is provided on its under side withprojections 21 which are adapted to engage the angular clip or holdingplate.

In the present instance the clip or holding,

plate is shown as provided with arallel sides and the projections on theial are formed by strikingout wings from the metal of the dial leavingthem attached at one end. These wings engage the sides of the clip orholding plate, as will be readily understood from the drawing, theprojections on the dial preventing the arms of the clip from spreadingand the clip from becoming loose on the spindle and the clip acting tohold the dial against any rotary movement except with the spindle. The

s end engaging the hook upon the clip or holding plate. After thetension of the operating spring has been adjusted, the dial orindicating plate is passed over the spindle, the projections on theunder side of the dial Ico handle.

engaging the parallel sides of the clip or holding -plate and then thenut is turned to place to secure the parts in their operative position."When assembled it is impossible for the dial to turn on the spindle orfor the clip to become loose thereon owing to its engagement with theprojections on the dial.

To convert an indicating switch into a non-indicating switch, it issimply necessary to remove the handle and cap and then remove the dialand replace the cap and A non-indicating switch of this type can beconverted into an indicating switch by simply applying the dial andforming an opening in the cap.

As the dial is attached directly to the spindle it moves only as thehandle is turned and is not subjected to the blows and sudden strains towhich the switch bar is subjected and the objectionable features ofconnecting a dial with the switch bar, as in most switches of this typenow in use, are avoided.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a switch of the character described, the combination with aslotted spindle and a clip engaging said spindle and carried thereby, ofa dial having projections engaging the clip and means for holding theparts in engagement.

2. In a switch of the character described, the combination with aspindle and a clip rigidly engaging said spindleand having parallelsides, of a dial restingon the clip and having projections engaging thesides of the clip and means for retaining the parts in engagement, theclip acting to retain the dial against rotation independently of thespindle andthe projections on the dial preventing the clip fromspreading.

3. In a switch of the character described, the combination with aspindle threaded at its upper end and having slots on opposite sides anda clip engaging said'slots, of a dial resting on the clip and havingprojections engaging the sides of the clip and a nut on the spindlewhereby the parts are held in interlocked engagement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE D. PLATT.

l Vitnessesz A. M. WOOSTER,

S. W. ATHERTON.

